Cycle News

2019 DUCATI HYPERMOTARD 950 AND 950 SP FIRST REVIEW P76 makes for a tall and narrow ma- chine. A silver lining on that topic is that there's plenty of legroom. To open the riding position even further, the handlebar sweep is reduced by seven degrees. Who knows what seven degrees looks like, but you feel a little more settled over the fork and in a slightly more commanding riding position. Sorely missed on the blast up the mountain was the SP's standard up/down quickshifter. The standard bike comes ready to be equipped with the DQS (Ducati Quick Shift) system, but it'll have to be an accessory catalog pur- chase (for about 300 euros, we're told). Mirrors are tidy and unobtru- sive, but leave you with a taste of 'afterthought' in your mind. The dash is a lovely, 4.3-inch TFT with a menu system that mimics the Multistrada 1260 and other Ducatis, with info dis- played in mock-Panigale style—a faux-analog tachometer on the right, and other data to the left. It works predictably if you're used to Ducati systems, and it'll take a little getting used to if you're not. The one major downside is that the Hyper's tall, flat seat and general ergonomics mean the dash isn't easily in view while riding. That's an artifact of a supermoto-style machine, not a flaw, but it's unfortunate consid- ering it's a handsome dash. 2019 DUCATI HYPERMOTARD 950 ($13,295 BASE / SP $16,695) ENGINE: ................Liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-stroke, 90-deg. V-twin DISPLACEMENT: ............................937cc BORE X STROKE: .............. 94 x 67.5mm COMPRESSION RATIO: ................... 13.3:1 CLUTCH: ......................... Wet multi-plate TRANSMISSION: .........................6-speed CHASSIS: ......................Steel-tube Trellis FRONT SUSPENSION: ................... 45mm Marzocchi inverted fork, fully adjustable (SP: 48mm Ohlins, fully adjustable) REAR SUSPENSION:..Sachs Monoshock, preload and rebound adjustable (SP: Ohlins, fully adjustable) FRONT WHEEL TRAVEL: 6.7 in. (SP: 7.3 in.) REAR WHEEL TRAVEL: . 6.0 in. (SP: 7.0 in.) FRONT BRAKE: ............2 x 320mm disc, 4-piston calipers, Cornering ABS REAR BRAKE: ......245mm disc, 2-piston caliper, Cornering ABS FRONT TIRE: ... 120/70 17 in. Pirelli Diablo Rosso III (SP: Pirelli Supercorsa SP) REAR TIRE: 180/55 R17 in. Pirelli Diablo Rosso III (SP: Pirelli Supercorsa SP) WHEELBASE: .......... 58.8 in. (SP: 59 in.) SEAT HEIGHT: ........ 34.2 in. (SP: 35 in.) FUEL CAPACITY: ..........................3.8 gal. WEIGHT (WET, CLAIMED):......... 440 lbs. (SP: 436 lbs.) COLORS: ............... Red (SP: Red/White) S P E C I F I C A T I O N S DOWN TO BRASS TACKS Overall the Hypermotard 950 is a fun, energetic, and satisfying machine. It'll hoist a long wheelie on a mountain road or trot around town as politely as you like. Little touches of class go a long way, too. The clutch lever matches the front brake in that it's a radial- pull, hydraulic setup that's adjustable. Along with stupendous brakes and high-quality suspension, the switchgear is well built and the general fit and finish is admirable. The most obvious question is: For the $13,295 that a standard Hyper 950 will cost, is it the bike you want? From Japan you can get a few different naked bikes with more power, but if you like the cut of a Hyper's jib then you're probably more interested in something European. From Aprilia you can get the supermoto-ish Dorsoduro 900 for a couple thousand dollars less, with a color dash and ABS. And from Triumph a Street (or even Speed) Triple, with equally good Brembo brakes and state-of-the-art amenities. Or, maybe most compelling, a KTM 790 Duke—a similarly rowdy engine, a color dash and sharp brakes, not to mention the ability to shut off rear ABS. The competition is strong, and it brings to light the Hyper's best trait: being itself. It may be too modern for supermoto purists, but it's been a decade of creating a mystique and a style that no other bike can match. CN

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